SaltWire Network

{{Infobox company

| name = SaltWire Network Inc.

| trading_name =

| logo =

| type = Public

| traded_as =

| genre =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2017|04|13}}

| founder =

| defunct = {{End date|2024|08|26}}

| location_city = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| location_country = Canada

| fate = Acquired by Postmedia Network

| location =

| area_served = Atlantic Canada

| key_people =

| industry = Mass media

| products =

| services =

| market cap =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner = Postmedia Network

| num_employees =

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|www.saltwire.com/}}

| footnotes =

| intl =

}}

SaltWire Network Inc. was a Canadian newspaper publishing company. The company was formed in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 13, 2017, via its purchase of 27 newspapers from Transcontinental. The company owned 23 daily and weekly newspapers in Atlantic Canada including The Chronicle Herald in Halifax, the Cape Breton Post in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and The Telegram in St. John's, Newfoundland.

In March 2024, SaltWire went into creditor protection. In July 2024, SaltWire agreed to be acquired by Postmedia Network, in a sale completed on August 26, 2024. During the first week of December 2024, Saltwire was rebranded as PNI Atlantic News and headquarters moved to Toronto.

History

On April 13, 2017, Halifax's independently owned The Chronicle Herald announced its acquisition of 27 newspapers in the region from Transcontinental Media, via the newly formed parent company SaltWire Network.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Doucette

| first1 = Keith

| last2 = Thomson

| first2 = Aly

| title = Transcontinental sells off its Atlantic papers

| work = Toronto Star

| publisher = Torstar

| location = Toronto

| agency = The Canadian Press

| date = April 14, 2017

| page = B2

| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-transcontinental-sells/161293659/

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| via = Newspapers.com

}} Transcontinental began a gradual exit from mainstream publishing in order to focus on specialty media and educational publishing.

{{cite news

| author = CBC Staff

| title = Transcontinental selling 93 newspapers in Ontario and Quebec

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Toronto

| date = April 18, 2017

| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcontinental-newspapers-sale-1.4073735

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240629221247/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcontinental-newspapers-sale-1.4073735

| archive-date = June 29, 2024

| url-status = live

}} The exact purchase price was not disclosed, although business analysts estimated that the publications were worth approximately $30 million in total.

{{cite news

| last1 = Risdon

| first1 = James

| title = Big deal a shocker: Herald's purchase of Transcontinental assets surprises observers

| work = The Chronicle Herald

| date = April 13, 2017

| url = http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1459670-big-deal-a-shocker-herald%E2%80%99s-purchase-of-transcontinental-assets-surprises-observers

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170423070500/http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1459670-big-deal-a-shocker-herald%E2%80%99s-purchase-of-transcontinental-assets-surprises-observers

| archive-date = April 23, 2017

| url-status = live

}}

The deal came amid a year-long strike by the employees of The Chronicle Herald.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Ward

| first1 = Rachel

| title = Labour minister defends article in striking Chronicle Herald

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = November 16, 2016

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/labour-minister-defends-article-chronicle-herald-union-complaint-halifax-1.3853496

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241208001058/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/labour-minister-defends-article-chronicle-herald-union-complaint-halifax-1.3853496

| archive-date = December 8, 2024

| url-status = live

}} The deal shocked striking staff because it meant that management had the money to buy a newspaper chain, while asking the union for concessions on benefits and wages because of money flow issues.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Quon

| first1 = Anthony

| title = How SaltWire became the largest media group in Atlantic Canada

| work = Global News

| publisher = Shaw Communications

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = April 13, 2017

| url = http://globalnews.ca/news/3377318/saltwire-media-group-atlantic-canada/

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241208001347/https://globalnews.ca/news/3377318/saltwire-media-group-atlantic-canada/

| archive-date = December 8, 2024

| url-status = live

}} The transaction was criticized by labour leaders because Herald management was essentially crying poor in negotiations.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Williams

| first1 = Cassie

| title = Chronicle Herald buys all Atlantic Canadian Transcontinental papers

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = April 13, 2017

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/chronicle-herald-buys-transcontinental-papers-1.4069102

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241003002634/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/chronicle-herald-buys-transcontinental-papers-1.4069102

| archive-date = October 3, 2024

| url-status = live

}} After being on the picket-lines for 18 months, with the help of a provincially appointed mediator, the strike finally came to an end in August 2017.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Katawazi

| first1 = Miriam

| title = After 18 months, Halifax Chronicle Herald and striking employees reach tentative deal

| work = The Globe and Mail

| publisher = The Woodbridge Company

| location = Toronto

| issn = 0319-0714

| date = August 2017

| url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/after-18-months-halifax-chronicle-herald-and-striking-employees-reach-tentative-deal/article35892030/

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240616160914/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/after-18-months-halifax-chronicle-herald-and-striking-employees-reach-tentative-deal/article35892030/

| archive-date = June 16, 2024

| url-status = live

}} 61 editors, writers and photographers went on strike, 26 were laid-off when the agreement passed, but management conceded to not replace laid off staff with non-unionized employees during the eight-year agreement.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Gillmore

| first1 = Meagan

| title = No clear winners as Chronicle Herald strike ends

| work = Rabble

| location = Toronto

| date = August 11, 2017

| url = https://rabble.ca/labour/no-clear-winners-chronicle-herald-strike-ends/

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240527224553/https://rabble.ca/web/20240527224553/https://rabble.ca/labour/no-clear-winners-chronicle-herald-strike-ends/

| archive-date = May 27, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

=Paywalls and downsizing=

In June 2018, Saltwire Network changed the Carbonear, Newfoundland-based weekly newspaper, The Compass, from a subscriber model to a free total market product delivered as a flyer package wrap.

{{Cite news

| last1 = MacEachern

| first1 = Daniel

| title = Carbonear Compass ditching paid subscriptions in favour of free distribution

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcaster Corporation

| location = St. John's, Newfoundland

| date = June 7, 2018

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/carbonear-compass-total-market-coverage-1.4696499

| access-date = December 26, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180607214932/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/carbonear-compass-total-market-coverage-1.4696499

| archive-date = June 7, 2018

| url-status = live

}} July 2018 saw Saltwire Network close The Beacon, The Advertiser, The Pilot and The Nor'wester, and merge them into a free weekly known as The Central Voice. The new paper began publication on August 1, 2018.

{{Cite news

| author = CBC Staff

| title = 'No pleasure' in amalgamating 4 community newspapers, says SaltWire

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcaster Corporation

| location = St. John's, Newfoundland

| date = July 9, 2019

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/saltwire-central-voice-1.4734679

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241208001341/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/saltwire-central-voice-1.4734679

| archive-date = December 8, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

In March 2019, all SaltWire publication websites introduced metered paywalls.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Neatby

| first1 = Stu

| title = SaltWire launching metered paywall Monday

| work = Cape Breton Post

| publisher = SaltWire Network

| location = Sydney, Nova Scotia

| date = February 24, 2019

| url = http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/saltwire-launching-metered-paywall-monday-287210/

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190225093040/http://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/saltwire-launching-metered-paywall-monday-287210/

| archive-date = February 25, 2019

}} At the end of March 2019, the company terminated its affiliation with the Canadian Press newswire service, opting instead to become a client of Postmedia and Reuters. In March 2019, SaltWire announced it was putting 10 of its newspaper buildings up for sale, including the headquarters for the Cape Breton Post, and the St. John’s Telegram’s.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Stewart

| first1 = Dave

| title = SaltWire puts number of its newspaper buildings up for sale

| work = The Telegram

| publisher = SaltWire Network

| location = St. John’s, Newfoundland

| date = March 1, 2019

| url = http://www.thetelegram.com/news/regional/saltwire-puts-number-of-its-newspaper-buildings-up-for-sale-288637/

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190327122926/http://www.thetelegram.com/news/regional/saltwire-puts-number-of-its-newspaper-buildings-up-for-sale-288637/

| archive-date = March 27, 2019

| url-status = dead

}}

In April 2019, SaltWire announced it was turning Corner Brook-based The Western Star into a weekly delivered free to consumers as a flyer wrap. This resulted in the layoff of around 30 employees. Independent delivery contractors were also affected.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Wiffen

| first1 = Glen

| title = The Western Star goes weekly

| work = The Western Star

| publisher = SaltWire Network

| location = Corner Brook, Newfoundland

| date = April 11, 2019

| url = http://www.thewesternstar.com/business/the-western-star-goes-weekly-300346/

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190412042426/https://www.thewesternstar.com/business/the-western-star-goes-weekly-300346//

| archive-date = April 12, 2019

| url-status = dead

}} At the same time, it was announced that the two Labrador weeklies would merge into one called The Labrador Voice, which closed a year later.

{{Cite news

| last = Whitten

| first = Elizabeth

| title = The Case for Local News

| work = The Independent

| location = St. John’s, Newfoundland

| date = December 23, 2022

| url = https://theindependent.ca/news/the-case-for-local-news/

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240727054253/https://theindependent.ca/news/the-case-for-local-news/

| archive-date = July 27, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

In April 2019, SaltWire filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia against Transcontinental, accusing it of overstating and misrepresenting details surrounding the revenue of the papers it had acquired.

{{Cite news

| author = CBC Staff

| title = SaltWire sues former newspaper chain owner over revenue 'misrepresentation'

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = St. John’s, Newfoundland

| date = April 10, 2019

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/western-star-labrador-newspapers-saltwire-1.5092147

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230328015926/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/western-star-labrador-newspapers-saltwire-1.5092147

| archive-date = March 28, 2023

| url-status = live

}} The company threatened a counter-suit, stating that the sale was "conducted based on fair, accurate and timely information", and accusing SaltWire of failing to "fulfil its payment obligations".

{{cite news

| last1 = Robertson

| first1 = Susan Krashinsky

| title = Transcontinental defends sale of East Coast newspapers to SaltWire in wake of lawsuit

| work = The Globe and Mail

| publisher = The Woodbridge Company

| location = Toronto

| issn = 0319-0714

| date = April 12, 2019

| pages = B1, B6

| url = https://www.proquest.com/hnpglobeandmail/historical-newspapers/transcontinental-saltwire-spar-over-newspaper/docview/2748615564/

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| url-access = subscription

| id = {{ProQuest | 2748615564}}

| via = ProQuest

}}

{{Cite news

| author = CP Staff

| title = Transcontinental defends its sale of Atlantic Canada media assets

| date = April 11, 2019

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| agency = The Canadian Press

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/transcontinental-fires-back-against-saltwire-lawsuit-1.5094633

|access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220817135734/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/transcontinental-saltwire-lawsuit-countersuit-newspapers-value-1.5094633

| archive-date = August 17, 2022

| url-status = live

}}

=Bankruptcy and sale=

In March 2024, both lender Fiera Private Debt and SaltWire applied to place the media company under creditor protection.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Thomas

| first1 = Jesse

| title = Chronicle Herald, SaltWire business issues traced back to 2017

| work = CTV News Atlantic

| publisher = Bell Media

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = March 12, 2024

| url = https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/chronicle-herald-saltwire-business-issues-traced-back-to-2017-1.6805012

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240313062912/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/chronicle-herald-saltwire-business-issues-traced-back-to-2017-1.6805012

| archive-date = March 13, 2024

| url-status = live

}} Fiera was owed over $32 million.

{{Cite news

| last = Hoffman

| first = Josh

| title = SaltWire Network files for creditor protection

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = March 11, 2024

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/saltwire-creditor-protection-newspaers-atlantic-canada-nova-scotia-1.7140521

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241003002630/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/saltwire-creditor-protection-newspaers-atlantic-canada-nova-scotia-1.7140521

| archive-date = October 3, 2024

| url-status = live

}} On July 26, 2024, Postmedia Network entered an agreement to purchase SaltWire.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Yarr

| first1 = Kevin

| last2 = Walton

| first2 = Victoria

| title = Postmedia enters agreement to buy SaltWire chain of newspapers

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| location = Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

| date = July 26, 2024

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-postmedia-saltwire-purchase-1.7276321

| access-date = July 26, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241212134814/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-postmedia-saltwire-purchase-1.7276321

| archive-date = December 12, 2024

| url-status = live

}} When the sale was announced, SaltWire employed about 800 independent contractors and 390 staff (including Halifax Herald Ltd.).

{{Cite news

| author = CP Staff

| title = Postmedia plans to buy Atlantic Canada's insolvent SaltWire newspaper chain

| work = Toronto Sun

| publisher = Postmedia Network

| location = Toronto

| agency = The Canadian Press

| date = July 26, 2024

| url = https://torontosun.com/business/money-news/postmedia-plans-to-buy-atlantic-canadas-insolvent-saltwire-newspaper-chain

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241221022701/https://torontosun.com/business/money-news/postmedia-plans-to-buy-atlantic-canadas-insolvent-saltwire-newspaper-chain

| archive-date = December 21, 2024

| url-status = live

}} At an insolvency court hearing in Halifax, on August 8, 2024, a Nova Scotia Supreme Court justice approved the sale.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Gowling

| first1 = Jordan

| title = Postmedia gets green light to buy Atlantic Canada newspaper chain

| work = National Post

| publisher = Postmedia Network

| location = Toronto

| date = August 9, 2024

| page = FP7

| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-postmedia-gets-green-light/161290982/

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| via = Newspapers.com

}} Postmedia completed the transaction on August 26, 2024.

{{Cite news

| author = CP Staff

| title = Postmedia completes $1-million purchase of Atlantic Canada's largest newspaper chain

| work = The Canadian Press

| location = Toronto

| date = August 26, 2024

| url = https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/postmedia-completes-1-million-purchase-of-atlantic-canadas-largest-newspaper-chain/article_d2f204bd-8bb4-53be-9764-3073626b42e1.html

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241220205924/https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainment/postmedia-completes-1-million-purchase-of-atlantic-canadas-largest-newspaper-chain/article_d2f204bd-8bb4-53be-9764-3073626b42e1.html

| archive-date = December 20, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

Postmedia did not buy all of SaltWire's assists. The biggest asset left unsold was the Newfoundland printing plant that was used by The Telegram and other community papers.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Rhodes

| first1 = Blair

| title = Postmedia begins takeover of parts of SaltWire Network

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcast Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = August 23, 2024

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/postmedia-begins-takeover-of-parts-of-saltwire-network-1.7302773

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240927210257/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/postmedia-begins-takeover-of-parts-of-saltwire-network-1.7302773

| archive-date = September 27, 2024

| url-status = live

}}The Telegram therefore announced that it would discontinue daily publishing after August 24, 2024, and convert to a weekly published on Fridays.{{cite web |date=August 21, 2024 |title=Note to Telegram readers |url=https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/note-to-telegram-readers-100988331/ |access-date=August 21, 2024 |work=SaltWire.com}}

{{Cite news |last1=Smellie |first1=Sarah |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Postmedia completes $1M SaltWire purchase |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-postmedia-completes-1m/161284788/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Toronto Star |page=B2 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=The Canadian Press}}

{{Cite news |last1=Mercer |first1=Juanita |date=August 24, 2024 |title=‘This isn't the end for us’: Telegram workers reflect on last day as a daily paper |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/this-isnt-the-end-for-us-telegram-workers-reflect-on-last-day-as-a-daily-paper-100988981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221064324/https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/this-isnt-the-end-for-us-telegram-workers-reflect-on-last-day-as-a-daily-paper-100988981 |archive-date=December 21, 2024 |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=The Telegram |publisher=SaltWire Network |location=St. John's, Newfoundland |pages=A1, A2}} The Cape Breton Post building on George Street in Sydney was sold in October 2024, after the building became surplus with the paper being printed at the same press as the Halifax Herald.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Rhodes

| first1 = Blair

| title = Deal reached for sale of former Cape Breton Post building

| work = CBC News

| publisher = Canadian Broadcast Corporation

| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia

| date = October 17, 2024

| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/deal-reached-for-sale-of-former-newspaper-building-in-cape-breton-1.7355134

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241221031245/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/deal-reached-for-sale-of-former-newspaper-building-in-cape-breton-1.7355134

| archive-date = December 21, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

About a month after Postmedia's takeover, about 30 percent of SaltWire's staff were laid off, including management, editorial staff, and writers, including cartoonist Michael de Adder.

{{Cite news

| last1 = Edge

| first1 = Marc

| title = Postmedia’s cuts to newspapers in Atlantic Canada begin to hurt

| work = Canadian Dimension

| publisher = Dimension Publications Inc.

| location = Winnipeg, Manitoba

| issn = 0008-3402

| date = October 17, 2024

| url = https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/postmedias-cuts-to-newspapers-in-atlantic-canada-begin-to-hurt

| access-date = December 21, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241221073710/https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/postmedias-cuts-to-newspapers-in-atlantic-canada-begin-to-hurt

| archive-date = December 21, 2024

| url-status = live

}} During the first week of December 2024, Postmedia rebranded SaltWire as PNI Atlantic News, with their websites and print editions changing to look like the parent company’s other newspapers and their head office moved to Toronto.

{{Cite news

| author = PNI Staff

| title = Note to readers

| work = Cape Breton Post

| publisher = PNI Atlantic News

| location = Toronto

| date = December 5, 2024

| url = https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/note-to-readers

| access-date = December 20, 2024

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241220220742/https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/note-to-readers

| archive-date = December 20, 2024

| url-status = live

}}

{{Cite news

| author = Momentum Staff

| title = Online & Digital Media News - Postmedia rebrands Saltwire as PNI Atlantic

| work = Broadcast Dialogue

| publisher = Momentum Media

| location = Vancouver, British Columbia

| date = December 19, 2024

| url = https://broadcastdialogue.com/online-digital-media-news-173/#:~:text=Postmedia%20has%20rebranded%20Saltwire%20as,page-load%20times%20and%20functionality

| access-date = January 30, 2025

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250118004128/https://broadcastdialogue.com/online-digital-media-news-173/

| archive-date = January 18, 2025

| url-status = live

}}